5

Jimin was discharged from the hospital two days later, his oxygen levels stabilised and the worst of the infection having healed. It would still take him a few days to regain his full strength and he was fully aware of that, infections took a big toll on Jimin's body and he knew he'd have to take it easy for a few more days.

Therefore, he was now sitting on the couch in his and Hoseok's dorm, covered in one too many blankets the red-haired boy had insisted on giving Jimin. They were having another movie marathon, this time it was musicals and they were currently in the middle of 'Moulin Rouge'. Jimin almost fell off the couch from laughing so hard when Hoseok decided to put on a dramatic performance of

'Roxanne' while the song blasted from the TV's speakers.

He almost didn't hear the door opening.

"Hobi you know that I can hear your voice all the way to my dorm, right?" It was Taehyung, the boy was standing in the doorway showing his boxy smile. "While I personally think your rendition of 'Roxanne' is ground breaking, I think some people are actually trying to sleep."

Hoseok threw a sock at the boy and sat down on the couch again. Taehyung looked at Jimin and his smile grew wider.

"Jiminie!" The bov practically threw himself on the couch next to Jimin and gave him a hug.

"Wait, you've stopped puking your guts up, right?" He asked pulling away from the blonde boy, his smile fading slightly.

Right. Jimin was reminded of the excuse Hoseok had given for his absence and gave the red-haired boy a small punch in the leg under the blanket. "Yeah, I uhm- I feel a lot better now."

"Good, I wanted to come sooner but you know how I can't handle vomit." Jimin laughed squeezing Taehyung's hand.

He was reminded of a particular incident involving an amusement park and a little boy throwing up on

Taehyung's shoes. His friend hadn't exactly handled the situation well. That day they learned that cotton candy does not look the same coming up as it does going down.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, I'm still a bit tired but for the most part I think I'm all better." Jimin said with a smile, he closed his eyes and laid his head against his friend's chest drawing in his familiar scent.

"That's weird. I thought food poisoning only lasted a couple of days.

Jimin froze, he opened his eyes slowly trying to come up with something to say. "Uh, yeah I guess I had it pretty bad then." He said hoping it would be enough.

"Yeah... at least you're feeling better now." Tae gave him another hug and Jimin sighed in relief, hopefully he bought it. The blonde boy eventually fell asleep in the comforting arms of his best friend. It was the best he had felt all week.

It was almost 1AM when Jimin woke up from Taehyung trying to wiggle out of his grip. His best friend was headed back to his own dorm room, but promised he'd be back tomorrow. Taehyung threw the two roommates a last boxy smile before closing the door.

Jimin got up from the couch and made his way over to his bed. He was laying out his meds for the night when Hoseok spoke up.

"You really should tell him vou know." He was sitting on his own bed and looking at Jimin carefully. "You told Jungkook and he's still making fun of you like he usually does. I know you think it's easier like this, but aren't you tired of lying to him? I don't think he would treat you differently if he knew."

He had a point, it did suck lying to his best friend all the time, but Jimin was too afraid he would lose Tae like he had lost so many other friends over the years. Besides, he wasn't so sure Jungkook was treating him like he used to.

Sure, he still made fun of him but it was never with malicious intent anymore. Jimin did like that part, but he couldn't be certain that the boy wouldn't change his behaviour in other ways too. "I don't know, it's not really that simple." Jimin avoided his friend's eyes and chose to focus on the colourful cover of 'Lord of the Flies' laying on his bedside table.

Hoseok got up and sat next to Jimin and slipped his hand into his. "I know it hasn't always gone the best in the past, but Tae cares about you a lot and I think he'd care more about you lying to him all the time than the fact that you have CF"

"I just don't want to lose him Hobi." Jimin said quietly, squeezing his friend's hand.

"I don't think you possibly could."

Going to classes had never felt so good to Jimin. Having been gone for over a week he almost skipped down the hallwavs, the iov clearl visible on his face. He was just hallways, the joy clearly visible on his face. He was just happy to be back living his life, his normal life where he didn't have to think about medicines or hospital rooms.

Namjoon had clearly found his behaviour a bit odd, but indulged him anyway since he was happy that Jimin was back too.

They were walking towards their Korean history class when they bumped into Jungkook on the way.

"Woah, you're in a good mood." Jungkook said raising his eyebrows towards Jimin.

"People can't be happy anvmore?" Jimin asked sarcastically, but the smile he hadn't been able to keep off his face all day soon popped back up.

"Give him a break," Namjoon said giving Jungkook a light shove. "he's probably just excited to see me again."

"Come on, not even Jin is that excited to see you.

Jungkook scoffed.

"This is harassment." Namjoon complained looking at

Jimin, the blonde boy only laughed.

"Anyway, we still need to do that proiect for photography class Jimin." Jungkook turned back towards him, ignoring his best friend's offended expression. "I'll text you later and we can decide a time that works for the both of us."

"Sure, sounds good." Jimin said giving the younger boy a bigger smile than he'd initially intended.

Jungkook nodded, waved goodbye and passed the two literature students to make his way down the hallway.

"He's been a lot happier the last week." Namjoon said absentmindedly while they continued their walk towards their next class. "I don't know what's up with him, but whatever it is I'm glad. I haven't seen him smile this much in years, it's almost odd."

Jimin nodded not thinking much of Namjoon's comment. A moment later he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.

Evil spawn

Saturday 10AM? Weather's supposed to be great, it'll be perfect to take photos

Jimin smiled a bit wider than he probably should have at the sight of the message. He sent back a quick affirmative and put his phone back in his pocket. Surprisingly he found himself looking forward to Saturday.

Jimin woke up Saturday morning to stark sunlight finding its way into his dorm room through the blinds. Jungkook had been right, Jimin thought as he looked out onto the grass outside, this really would be a perfect day to do their project.

Hoseok wasn't home, he would always leave early to get a few hours in at the gym before going to the dance studio, but he had left a packet of peanuts on Jimin's nightstand with a note saying: 'For your little excursion ;)'. The blonde boy let out a small laugh, Hoseok really acted like he was his mum sometimes.

He rummaged through his closet trying to find something to wear. He finally decided on a pair of black slim fit jeans and a long-sleeved shirt with black and white stripes. He wouldn't need a jacket as it was still rather warm outside, summer not quite wanting to let go yet.

He heard his text signal go off and he picked up his phone to see a text from Jungkook.

Evil Spawn

I'm outside.

Jimin sent him a short reply telling the boy he was on his way before putting on his shoes and heading out the door, not forgetting to grab the bag of peanuts Hoseok had left for him.

The dorm halls were mostly deserted, there were just a few people, clearly still dressed in yesterday's clothes, making their way back to their own rooms. Jimin had never partied like regular college students. Getting drunk wasn't good for him, it weakened his immune system making him susceptible to new infections and his doctor had told him he could get pancreatitis if he overdid it and he would very much like to avoid that. So Jimin stayed away from alcohol for the most part, a beer here and there was as far as he would go. Seeing the miserable look on his fellow students' faces made him smile to himself, it didn't look like the consequences of a drunken night were that pleasant for everyone else either.

Jimin had gone to a few parties in his first year of university. The nights mostly consisted of him laughing at his drunk friends' various stupid decisions before driving or walking them home at the end of the night. He enjoyed watching his friends having fun, playing games and finding people to hook up with in one of the secluded rooms of the house they were in for the night or one of the dorm rooms, but he got tired of having to explain to random people why he wasn't drinking during beer pong or why he didn't want to go take a shot with them in the kitchen. He preferred just hanging out with his friends without other people around.

As he rounded the corner to the stairs down to the ground floor he almost walked head first into someone. "Sorry I didn't-" He looked up and saw Yeoniun's face looking back at him. The boy was wearing a loosely fitted sweater that draped beautifully over his torso exposing one of his collar bones, it suited him amazingly. His platinum blonde hair was layina wet against his forehead, he must have just gotten out of the shower. Jimin was genuinely happy to have run into the boy. "Oh hey!"

"Hey Jimin, I haven't seen you in a while. Doing good?" Yeonjun smiled at him, he seemed happy to see Jimin too.

"Yeah, I've been busy with school and stuff. How's dance class?"

"It's great, we're doing this dark artistic piece at the moment, I think you would have liked it." Yeonjun said while scratching the back of his neck. Jimin's smile fell slightly, he was sure the boy was right. He missed getting to learn new interesting choreographies. "Actually, we're performing it for the dance recital. You should come watch."

"I was already planning to, Hoseok is performing too."

Yeonjun flushed slightly at Jimin's words.

"Oh, of course! Sorry I forgot you were friends, I don't get to talk to him much since we don't practice together." The boy hurried to say.

"I was looking forward to what you guys were going to do too, I'm sure it'll be great." Now it was Jimin's turn to flush.

He looked down at his hands and played with the ring on his thumb.

"Thanks, I hope it'll be good. You should come by some time, if you have time that is. We miss having you in the class you know." Yeonjun looked like he meant it. Jimin felt a strange mix of sadness and giddiness. Hearing that Yeonjun and the others missed him felt nice, but it also reminded him of why he had to quit.

He assured the boy that he would try to make it sometime soon before exchanging goodbyes. His thoughts were full of Yeonjun's kind smile and pretty brown eyes as he stepped out of the building.

"Took you long enough."

Jungkook was sitting on a bench just outside the building.

Most ot his hair was swept up in a bun leaving only his bangs to drape over his forehead. He looked a bit annoyed, and he was bouncing his leg up and down restlessly.

"I'm guessing you were talking to Yeonjun." Jungkook said nonchalantly, but there was an edge to his voice. "I've seen you drooling over him in the cafeteria."

Jimin just gaped at the boy for a second before he managed to collect himself, he could feel his cheeks turning red. Had he really been that obvious? He hadn't discussed his crush on Yeonjun with anyone besides Taehyung, but maybe he hadn't been as discreet as he had thought.

Jungkook didn't let Jimin say anything before he got to his feet and started walking in a rapid pace towards the edge of the campus. "Let's go, I've got somewhere to be later."

Jimin hurried to catch up with the taller boy, becoming slightly out of breath in the process, and it seemed like Jungkook had realised the pace he'd set was a bit too fast for Jimin as he slowed down while eyeing the boy apprehensively. "Sorry I shouldn't have started walking so fast, I know that that makes you... uhm"

Jimin regained his confidence seeing the taller boy now losing some of his attitude. "Out of breath." Jimin finished his sentence for him. "Stop acting weird Jungkook, you can say it out loud."

"Yeah I know it's just..." the boy looked down at his feet.

"Just tell me if you need to rest or sit down or something, I don't mind, really."

"You said it was a 10-minute walk." Jimin rolled his eyes at the statement. "You've seen me walk way further than that before you knew about my CF. Just don't start running off and I'll be fine."

Jungkook nodded, his gaze quickly turning to Jimin and then back to his shoes.

They were making their way towards the park behind the university in relative silence, only occasionally making university in relative silence, only occasionally making polite conversation about school and their friends.

Jungkook kept looking over at Jimin as if he were worried something would happen. The blonde boy was getting increasingly irritated with the looks he was getting and finally decided to speak up when the taller boy had given him two glances in less than ten seconds.

"Stop looking at me like that." Jimin grabbed Jungkook's arm and made him stop walking.

"What, I'm not-" but Jungkook didn't get to finish his sentence before Jimin cut him off.

"You're looking at me like I'm about to collapse any minute. I'm fine Jungkook, I'm not sick and we're walking in a normal pace. I'm not going to stop breathing in front of you." Jimin said trying to mask some of his anger.

"I know that, I just-"

"Then stop looking at me like that!" The last sentence might have come out a bit louder than Jimin had intended, but it seemed to have the desired effect nonetheless as Jungkook looked at him and smiled a bit awkwardly.

"You're right, I'm sorry."

Jimin turned back around and started walking again. "Let's just keep going."

Jungkook took a few long steps to catch up to the blonde boy as they reached the entrance to the park.

"How do you know about this place anyway?" Jimin tried to make the situation less awkward by changing the subject.

"I found it last year." Jungkook also seemed relieved to talk about something else. "My apartment is on the other side if this park. I was taking a walk one day to clear my mind and I just stumbled upon it."

"Do you go there a lot?" Jimin asked.

"Depends." Jungkook shrugged. Jimin was expecting him to say something else, it sounded like the boy had more on his mind, but Jungkook remained silent. Jimin didn't press him on the subiect any further.

"It's just through these bushes, we have to climb over these fallen trees. Are you going to be okay to-" Jungkook paused seeing the scathing look Jimin was giving him. He turned back around and the boys made their way into a clearing well hidden away by wildly growing bushes and trees.

When Jimin had stepped over the last fallen branches of a birch tree he looked around at the clearing in front of him.

He could see why Jungkook liked it so much.

It was small, it would only take him about ten steps to get to the other side, but that gave it a cosy and safe feel.

Through the middle of the clearing he could see the stream that ran through parts of the park, the water making a calming clucking sound as it hit against the rocks. Since it was still fairly early in the day, light was streaming through the branches of the tall trees, bathing the clearing in filtered sunlight, making the stream glisten.

The boys just stood there for a while, Jimin taking in his surroundings. It was surprisingly quiet considering the rest of the park was quite busy, it being a popular place for both students and other people who lived close by. He figured that the heavy foliage might drown out some of the noise.

Jimin turned to Jungkook. "It's- I don't even know how to describe it."

Jungkook gave him a genuine smile. "It's amazing isn't it.

It's my happy place. I come here when I need to clear my mind"

"I can see why. I feel like we're so far away from the rest of the world, like nothing can touch us here."

Jungkook looked slightly surprised at Jimin's statement. He nodded, not seeming to have another response.

The taller boy suggested they get going on the project. It wasn't difficult to find motifs fitting the project description.

They spent a good 30 minutes trying different settings to get the best results. After they thought they had enough photos they sat down on the grass next to the stream and looked through the pictures on the small display.

"I like this one." Said Jimin as he flicked onto a close-up

Jungkook had taken of the sunlight dancing across the water.

Jungkook smiled and pressed the button to switch between photos, lightly brushing against Jimin's hand in the process. "This one is my favourite." He gestured towards the photo on the screen. It was one Jimin had taken early in the process, it portrayed a solitary blooming white flower surrounded by several slightly smaller ones looking like they would bloom any time.

Jimin laughed embarrassedly. "You're just saying that, I'm not as good as you are." Jungkook huffed at that.

"Liar, I bet we'll only pick the ones you took." Jimin hit him on the arm lightly, but he couldn't deny he liked the flattery.

He then went back to look at the more newly taken photos.

Jimin stopped when he saw his own face in one of them. It was taken slightly from the side with mostly his profile showing, his face lit by the filtered light coming from the trees. He was laughing, probably at something the taller boy had said. Jungkook had somehow made it look like Jimin was glowing, his honey skin and blonde hair matching the warm tones of his surroundings perfectly. He felt a bit embarrassed that the brown-haired boy had taken a picture of him.

Jimin was about to ask Jungkook about the photo when the boy took the camera from him. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself." The boy looked at the display almost fondly. "You just looked so happy." He turned to Jimin and gave him a genuine smile. Jimin couldn't help but blush and smile shyly, gaze directed towards his shoes.

"I think we have what we need, do you want to head back?" Jungkook asked.

"Yeah, sounds good." Jimin felt a bit relieved at the attention being diverted away from the picture still on the camera display, the picture Jungkook took of him.

As the boys started to make their way out of the clearing

Jimin felt a bit sad to be leaving the place. He'd had such a nice time with Jungkook, something he never thought he would say. They hadn't really bickered at all, mostly made easy conversation or stayed in a comfortable silence. It had felt effortless in a way.

"So how many people have you taken here before?

Charmed any girls here at sunset?" Jimin asked with a grin on his face.

Jungkook scoffed and answered calmly. "Oh, you're the first person I've shown it to." Jimin could understand why the boy wouldn't want to show this place to a lot of other people, it was precious and it seemed to mean a lot to Jungkook. But why had he shown it to Jimin of all people?

"Really?" Jimin paused for a couple of seconds. "But why take me here then?" He swung his leg over one of the fallen trees and grunted quietly.

"I don't know, I just thought this would be the perfect spot for the project." Jungkook shrugged.

But Jimin didn't buy that, the reason didn't seem good enough. He turned around, now facing Jungkook, but continued to walk. "But there are so many other places we could have done it at, you didn't have to take me here.

Why-" Jimin's sentence was cut short by a surprised yelp escaping his mouth as his foot caught on a branch and he fell backwards hitting the ground with a thump.

It hurt, he couldn't deny that. He'd been so surprised that he hadn't had the time to catch himself properly, landing on his hip. Jimin was used to falling over, as graceful as he could be when he was dancing he was surprisingly clumsy.

He was sure he'd have a pretty nasty bruise by tomorrow, but he felt like the bigger bruise was to his ego having fallen over in front of Jungkook like this. Jimin expected to look up and see the taller boy laughing at him and making a joke like he would usually do. What he hadn't expected was to see Jungkook on the ground next to him, eyes scanning for inuries and hands hovering centimetres from Jimin's body, as if he didn't know if he should touch him.

"Jimin are you ok?!" The boy's voice was shaking slightly and his eyes were filled with worry.

"I'm fine." Jimin pushed Jungkook's hands out of the way and got up on his feet, brushing some dirt off from his jeans.

"It looked pretty bad though, do you want-" Jimin didn't let the boy finish.

"Jungkook, I'm fine. It wasn't that bad." Jimin was growing increasingly more irritated. How many times would he have to explain for Jungkook to get it? He started walking again, the boys now out on the gravel path tracing through the park.

"Really? Are you sure you'll be ok to walk back?"

"Stop!" Jimin turned around again to look at Jungkook.

He'd had enough now. "Stop treating me like I'm made of glass. I can take care of myself, I've been doing it for the last 23 years. You've only seemed to care about my wellbeing for the past two weeks, and suddenly that makes you an expert? I don't think so." Jimin walked off towards the university, picking up his pace because he didn't really feel like talking to Jungkook anymore.

"Wait Jimin, I'm sorry, I just wanted to help." Jungkook grabbed his wrist and lightly turned Jimin around.

"Well I don't want you to!" Jimin was practically yelling at the other boy, thanking his lucky star that there weren't that many people in this part of the park. He didn't know why he was reacting so strongly, but he couldn't help himself. "I don't want your help. I'm not some charity case you can take on to boost your ego. I told you that you would treat me differently and I was right. You're just like everyone else."

Jungkook looked shocked at Jimin's words, maybe even a little hurt. "Can I at least walk you back." He said after a few seconds.

"Why? You don't even like me, hell I don't like you either." He started to walk away from the boy again. "Just leave me alone Jungkook, I can walk home on my own without dropping dead."

Jimin was walking pretty fast and his lungs were not so quietly protesting. He knew that Jungkook could easily catch up to him but it didn't seem like the boy was following him. He hated being treated like that, like he couldn't do anything on his own and that any movement he made could result in him ending up in the hospital. He wasn't some defenceless child and he was more than capable of asking for help if he needed it. He didn't need anyone's help, most definitely not Jeon Jungkook's.

Jimin made it back to his dorm room and threw himself on the bed, burying his face in his pillows.

"What's up with you?" Jimin hadn't even noticed that Hoseok was home. He only grunted.

"Did Jungkook make fun of the way you squeak when you laugh again?" Hoseok teased him.

Jimin turned around to face his friend who was sitting on his own bed. He was dressed in his dance clothes, gym bag next to him on the bed. It looked like he was on his way to go practice. "He kept trying to help me and asking if I was okay all the time so I yelled at him and ran off."

Hoseok looked at him with an amused grin. "That sounds stupid."

Jimin had to agree. Now that he said it out loud it sounded ridiculous. He yelled at Jungkook for treating him like a child and in the process, had acted like one. He didn't think his reaction had been unwarranted but maybe he could have acted a bit more maturely. "I know, I realise that now, but I was just really angry. You know how much I hate being treated like that."

Hoseok just laughed and shook his head. "I know, but maybe don't cut the boy's head off every chance you get."

"He's known for two weeks and he still treats me like this.

This is why I don't tell people Hobi, they either walk on eggshells around me or they become cold and distant. I just want to be treated like a normal person, is that too much to ask?"

Hoseok's smile faltered. He looked at Jimin with sympathetic eyes. "No, it isn't. It shouldn't be anyway."

"This isn't exactly helping your argument of telling Tae."

Hoseok sighed and rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. "I'm not going to force you to do something you don't want to do. You already know what I think, but it's your decision. I don't love lying to all of our friends, but Ill do it as long as you believe that it will make you happy."

"It doesn't make me happy, but telling everyone will make everything worse." Jimin was picking at a thread sticking out from his bedsheets. "Even you acted weird around me for a couple of months."

"But I don't anymore right?" Hoseok asked.

Jimin shook his head. "No, but that's not usually what happens. You're the only person except my family that knows about it and still treats me the same as everyone else.

Hoseok gave him a fond smile. "I think Tae and the rest of our friends would understand if you just gave them the chance." He got up and grabbed his gym bag, making his way towards the door. "Besides, I'm starting to run out of funny ideas for excuses of why you disappear." He gave Jimin a last smile, waved goodbye and left the blonde boy alone with his thoughts.

Jimin sat up on his bed and put his face in his hands. It would be so much easier if they knew, he wouldn't have to pretend like he was fine when he wasn't and he could stop lying all the time. But he was scared, he'd opened up his heart to so many people only to be reiected or seen as a completely different person. He cared too much about the friends he'd made here, he didn't want to lose them.

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